DeepseekerADS
Gold Member
- Mar 3, 2013
- 14,880
- 21,725
- Detector(s) used
- CTX, Excal II, EQ800, Fisher 1260X, Tesoro Royal Sabre, Tejon, Garrett ADSIII, Carrot, Stealth 920iX, Keene A52
- Primary Interest:
- Other
Jason Richards
When you store food, you want to preserve its freshness
and quality as long as possible.
Containers play a big role in extending the shelf life
of low-moisture, long-term food storage and
even in eliminating insects.
Here are some things to keep in mind.
Shelf life is extended when food is kept away from humidity,
air, light and temperatures that are high, all of which
destroy vitamins and food quality.
Think of the acronym HALT (humidity, air, light, temperature)
to help you remember.
Food packaging affects the first three of these.
No. 10 cans, Mylar pouches and No. 2.5 cans.
Low-moisture food, packaged in these containers
using oxygen absorbers or vacuum sealing,
is well protected from humidity, air and light.
In humid climates, Mylar bags are an advantage because
they do not rust.
They can be stored in plastic tubs or other containers
for further protection from punctures and from rodents,
which have been known to eat through Mylar.
These containers are light-weight to transport, and
you can open them and use food without exposing
a large amount of it at a time.
No. 10 cans are easy to stack in cardboard boxes,
and Mylar bags can be stacked when stored in tubs
or other containers.
Size No. 2.5 cans are about the size of a can of cocoa mix.
Single people and couples may find these smaller cans helpful.
If you want to try a product before you invest in a lot of it,
this size is ideal. Cans this size can be good for foods
you use only a tablespoon or two of at a time,
like dried green peppers, celery, powdered eggs
and butter powder, exposing a smaller amount
of food by the time you finish the can.
Food purchased this way is a more expensive,
but it may be worth it.
A group order with interested friends and neighbors
can help to defray shipping costs.
Plastic buckets. High density plastic buckets offer better protection
from light than buckets made with thin plastic.
However, plastic buckets in general are air permeable,
allowing oxygen to seep through the plastic into the food
at a slow rate over time.
Plastic buckets are not a big concern for storing wheat
or beans long term. However, they are not recommended
for long-term storage of foods like rolled oats or rice,
which in the presence of oxygen go rancid over time,
rendering them dangerous to eat.
This problem can be overcome for foods that deteriorate
in the presence of oxygen by using plastic buckets lined
with Mylar bags.
The bags seal well, and the buckets offer protection
from punctures and rodents.
You can purchase food packaged this way (called Super Pails)
from businesses that sell food storage, or you can purchase
the bags at a nominal price online if you want
to package food yourself.
Mylar bags can be purchased with zip seal tops, making them easy
to seal using oxygen absorbers and to reclose after opening,
protecting food from moisture.
Some people prefer to ensure bags are sealed
by heat sealing them instead of using zip seal closures.
The large quantities of food in buckets appeal to some people.
They can be stacked to maximize storage space; however,
it is not recommended that they be stacked more than
three high as the lids can crack.
Keep in mind that buckets can get heavier over time.
How does that happen? Well, as we get older,
they sure feel heavier to heft!
Occasionally, people are more hesitant to open large more
expensive buckets to experiment with the food and use it,
in comparison to opening smaller containers.
If that’s you, consider buying food packaged in
smaller amounts.
It’s wise to open and use what you store so food
does get too old, and so you know how you’ll use it
before an emergency.
Vacuum sealers. Low moisture food packaged with
vacuum sealers is protected from humidity and air.
However, packaging in transparent containers does
not protect food from light.
If you use this method with transparent containers,
be sure to store food in a dark place away from light
to preserve its nutrition and quality.
The Utah State University Extension Service cautions
that regular polyethylene bags are not suitable to
maintain a vacuum.
Eliminating insects. Pests can be a problem, particularly
when storing wheat and grains.
Fortunately, food technology and processing have improved
so much that we are seeing fewer problems with insects
than we used to.
Studies show that insects in all stages are killed when they
are kept in an environment of less than 1 percent oxygen
for at least 12 days.
Oxygen absorbers or vacuum sealing make this simple
when containers are not air permeable, like metal cans,
and Mylar pouches.
A recent study tested whether the addition of more
oxygen packets to high density polyethylene plastic
five-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids could maintain
a low level of oxygen long enough to kill insects.
Over 17 days, tests showed that some buckets maintained
less than 1 percent oxygen inside, while others did not.
The unexpected results indicated that seals in the lids
were undependable.
Tests were duplicated with less expensive gasketed lids,
which had an even higher failure rate.
Unfortunately, the consumer cannot detect which buckets
have sealed well and which have not. Lining buckets
with Mylar bags that are sealed would provide
the needed oxygen barrier to effectively eliminate bugs.
Insects in food can also be destroyed by freezing; however,
insect eggs are not affected, making it necessary
to freeze food several times as insects hatch.
This can be a real nuisance.
Dry ice is not the most effective way of controlling insects
in stored grain. Diatomaceous earth is also not recommended.
Various DE formulations have not been tested and DE poses
an inhalation hazard. Use of bay leaves, chewing gum,
10-penny nails and salt are all old wives’ tales.
It is not necessary to store wheat in an oxygen-deprived environment
unless insects are present.
It should, however, be stored away from moisture in
food-grade packaging.
It is possible to purchase insect-free wheat packaged
in heavy plastic bags.
If you store wheat this way you should be confident
your home cannot be invaded by rodents.
Selecting the best food packaging makes a big difference
to how well your low-moisture food will last over time,
and using an oxygen-deprived environment
to eliminate insects is a very simple solution
to ensuring your food remains pest-free.
Tip. After opening low-moisture food in long-term packaging,
you have around a year to use the food
without a significant decline in nutrition or quality,
as long as it is kept away from light and moisture.
This gives you a nice amount of time to use
what you opened.
The exception is dry milk, which may develop strong flavors
in the presence of oxygen and should be used
in a shorter amount of time.
When you store food, you want to preserve its freshness
and quality as long as possible.
Containers play a big role in extending the shelf life
of low-moisture, long-term food storage and
even in eliminating insects.
Here are some things to keep in mind.
Shelf life is extended when food is kept away from humidity,
air, light and temperatures that are high, all of which
destroy vitamins and food quality.
Think of the acronym HALT (humidity, air, light, temperature)
to help you remember.
Food packaging affects the first three of these.
No. 10 cans, Mylar pouches and No. 2.5 cans.
Low-moisture food, packaged in these containers
using oxygen absorbers or vacuum sealing,
is well protected from humidity, air and light.
In humid climates, Mylar bags are an advantage because
they do not rust.
They can be stored in plastic tubs or other containers
for further protection from punctures and from rodents,
which have been known to eat through Mylar.
These containers are light-weight to transport, and
you can open them and use food without exposing
a large amount of it at a time.
No. 10 cans are easy to stack in cardboard boxes,
and Mylar bags can be stacked when stored in tubs
or other containers.
Size No. 2.5 cans are about the size of a can of cocoa mix.
Single people and couples may find these smaller cans helpful.
If you want to try a product before you invest in a lot of it,
this size is ideal. Cans this size can be good for foods
you use only a tablespoon or two of at a time,
like dried green peppers, celery, powdered eggs
and butter powder, exposing a smaller amount
of food by the time you finish the can.
Food purchased this way is a more expensive,
but it may be worth it.
A group order with interested friends and neighbors
can help to defray shipping costs.
Plastic buckets. High density plastic buckets offer better protection
from light than buckets made with thin plastic.
However, plastic buckets in general are air permeable,
allowing oxygen to seep through the plastic into the food
at a slow rate over time.
Plastic buckets are not a big concern for storing wheat
or beans long term. However, they are not recommended
for long-term storage of foods like rolled oats or rice,
which in the presence of oxygen go rancid over time,
rendering them dangerous to eat.
This problem can be overcome for foods that deteriorate
in the presence of oxygen by using plastic buckets lined
with Mylar bags.
The bags seal well, and the buckets offer protection
from punctures and rodents.
You can purchase food packaged this way (called Super Pails)
from businesses that sell food storage, or you can purchase
the bags at a nominal price online if you want
to package food yourself.
Mylar bags can be purchased with zip seal tops, making them easy
to seal using oxygen absorbers and to reclose after opening,
protecting food from moisture.
Some people prefer to ensure bags are sealed
by heat sealing them instead of using zip seal closures.
The large quantities of food in buckets appeal to some people.
They can be stacked to maximize storage space; however,
it is not recommended that they be stacked more than
three high as the lids can crack.
Keep in mind that buckets can get heavier over time.
How does that happen? Well, as we get older,
they sure feel heavier to heft!
Occasionally, people are more hesitant to open large more
expensive buckets to experiment with the food and use it,
in comparison to opening smaller containers.
If that’s you, consider buying food packaged in
smaller amounts.
It’s wise to open and use what you store so food
does get too old, and so you know how you’ll use it
before an emergency.
Vacuum sealers. Low moisture food packaged with
vacuum sealers is protected from humidity and air.
However, packaging in transparent containers does
not protect food from light.
If you use this method with transparent containers,
be sure to store food in a dark place away from light
to preserve its nutrition and quality.
The Utah State University Extension Service cautions
that regular polyethylene bags are not suitable to
maintain a vacuum.
Eliminating insects. Pests can be a problem, particularly
when storing wheat and grains.
Fortunately, food technology and processing have improved
so much that we are seeing fewer problems with insects
than we used to.
Studies show that insects in all stages are killed when they
are kept in an environment of less than 1 percent oxygen
for at least 12 days.
Oxygen absorbers or vacuum sealing make this simple
when containers are not air permeable, like metal cans,
and Mylar pouches.
A recent study tested whether the addition of more
oxygen packets to high density polyethylene plastic
five-gallon buckets with gamma seal lids could maintain
a low level of oxygen long enough to kill insects.
Over 17 days, tests showed that some buckets maintained
less than 1 percent oxygen inside, while others did not.
The unexpected results indicated that seals in the lids
were undependable.
Tests were duplicated with less expensive gasketed lids,
which had an even higher failure rate.
Unfortunately, the consumer cannot detect which buckets
have sealed well and which have not. Lining buckets
with Mylar bags that are sealed would provide
the needed oxygen barrier to effectively eliminate bugs.
Insects in food can also be destroyed by freezing; however,
insect eggs are not affected, making it necessary
to freeze food several times as insects hatch.
This can be a real nuisance.
Dry ice is not the most effective way of controlling insects
in stored grain. Diatomaceous earth is also not recommended.
Various DE formulations have not been tested and DE poses
an inhalation hazard. Use of bay leaves, chewing gum,
10-penny nails and salt are all old wives’ tales.
It is not necessary to store wheat in an oxygen-deprived environment
unless insects are present.
It should, however, be stored away from moisture in
food-grade packaging.
It is possible to purchase insect-free wheat packaged
in heavy plastic bags.
If you store wheat this way you should be confident
your home cannot be invaded by rodents.
Selecting the best food packaging makes a big difference
to how well your low-moisture food will last over time,
and using an oxygen-deprived environment
to eliminate insects is a very simple solution
to ensuring your food remains pest-free.
Tip. After opening low-moisture food in long-term packaging,
you have around a year to use the food
without a significant decline in nutrition or quality,
as long as it is kept away from light and moisture.
This gives you a nice amount of time to use
what you opened.
The exception is dry milk, which may develop strong flavors
in the presence of oxygen and should be used
in a shorter amount of time.
Last edited:
